RA stories

Still searching for that perfect Father's Day gift? Look no further! This Father's Day gift guide includes the best natural, clean, organic and locally-made personal care products for men. Need extra ideas? We also rounded up our favorite gift ideas from other small businesses in Charlotte, NC and beyond.

Skincare is not just for the ladies. While it may not be talked about as much, men need proper skincare routines too. We’ve put together a list of our top-selling products that any man would feel pampered with. All of our Roses & Azalea products are handmade in Charlotte. We use highest quality ingredients, 100% USDA certified organic when possible, so that you can rest assured you’re giving non-toxic, truly natural options for products they use on a daily basis.

Ever wonder what natural remedies you can use for sensitive skin, dry skin, eczema, and psoriasis?

With both Hashimoto's and hypothyroidism, I definitely suffer from dry skin, swelling, redness, and inflammation.  I have found many skin care products to exasperate my skin conditions.

Check the back labels of products!  Avoid certain ingredients like parabens, sulfates, dyes, and fragrances as well as alcohol-based cleansers and products - they can dry and irritate skin further.  Not all moisturizers are created equal, so choosing the wrong moisturizer can also make dry skin and certain skin conditions worse.  Hydration is key, and using sun protection is very important. 

Learn more about the list of a few natural remedies that help with certain health and skin conditions.

If you haven't heard the story of why Roses and Azalea is started, here's a really quick version.  I struggled with autoimmune disease, hypothyroidism, and other illnesses for more than a decade and was finally diagnosed after hearing Dr. Amy Myers on a podcast randomly one day.  My husband was the one to catch that episode and thought told me that many of my symptoms matched the ones discussed on the podcast.

The diagnosis took a long time.  After persistence, our own personal research, seeing doctors across three different states, and being our own advocates, we finally had the diagnosis in 2018.  Although there was some relief in knowing that "it wasn't actually all in my head" like some of the healthcare professionals had told me since my early 20's (in fact, a doctor had told me that because I'm a woman who is getting old, what else should I expect), I wondered "now what?"

Some of you reading this may be wondering exactly that.  You've already been diagnosed with autoimmune disease(s) and have had very little guidance and resources.  Some of you may not have reached diagnosis yet and want some answers.  Wherever in your health journey, I want to reassure you that you aren't alone and that there ARE some resources and support out there for you!

Today, I am interviewing Anessa Powell who is very familiar with living with an autoimmune disease, Addison's Disease.  She is an amazing wife and mother of two.  Anessa is a passionate speaker and educator as well as one of the leaders of Autoimmune Sisters, the #1 online community for those living with an autoimmune disease.  In this interview, you'll find out a little more about Anessa's own health journey, some advice she has for being a modern woman juggling life with autoimmune disease, advice for caretakers, and some of the much-needed resources for those living with autoimmune disease(s).

Recently the World Health Organization declared the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak a pandemic.  And with all the difference information, media, and opinions portrayed on social media by the general public, confusion and misleading information can cause mass panic.

As someone who is at high risk with asthma and autoimmune disease, I don't take things lightly.  I've heard from many different perspectives including medical professionals.  There's charts floating around comparing the flu with COVID-19.  Pictures of how there's no toilet paper (and other resources) have dominated my Facebook feed.

No matter how things turn out with a severe flu season, rise of Coronavirus cases, and other illnesses, it is important to boost your immune system and to prevent from getting sick when possible.  The best thing you can do for yourself and your family members is to remain calm and carry out your life normally, to start making healthy lifestyle changes, and to practice good hand hygiene.

Not sure where to start?  I have written about 10 ways to boost your immune system and to reduce the risk of infection!  All facts, no opinions.  Read this very important information now.

Spring starts in March, and the transition from winter to spring can be a difficult one if you aren't prepared - especially if you have autoimmune disease and other health concerns.

Going from cold and flu season to seasonal allergies, you may just not be able to avoid the congestion, runny nose, itchy and irritated eyes.  Spring is beautiful, and we all enjoy Mother Nature and the beautiful flowers and plants around us.  If we can just enjoy this beauty without having to dose up on so much medication...

Well, may we could!  There are quite a few natural remedies that you can try.  If you didn't know this but our allergy relief balm (soon to be "breathe easy balm") helps open up airways.  Today, I want to talk more about other natural remedies like elderberry syrup.  This interview of Meg Lowery is about elderberry syrup for your overall wellness.  

Meg is the founder and owner of Honest Elderberry Co., which originated after her daughter's middle name, Honesty.  Her hope and mission is to instill into her daughter that one of the most honorable things is to build a life on integrity and that begins with honesty.  Her company is no different - it is built on that foundation of integrity through ingredients and the entire process.

Since it's still February and we're still on the topic of "purification" and detoxing, let's talk about detoxing our pits and skin.  Yes, detoxing pits is absolutely a thing.  Some of you may already have heard about it but have no idea why or where to start.

You may have attempted to transition from a conventional deodorant to a natural one and did not "successfully" switch over - something about natural deodorant stopped working.  Here's the truth, transition period may be around 4-6 weeks AND it will take a few days up to a week before the aluminum crashes out from your pores, which is around the time when the natural deodorant "stops working."

"Should I detox my arm pits before switching to a natural deodorant?" 

This question, or some form of it, is ask at almost every show, market, or pop up event we attend.  And as with many things in life the answer isn't black and white, it usually just depends. 

But by examining the three scenarios below, hopefully we can shed some light and guidance that might be helpful for you. After that, we'll walk you through our recommended detox method.  

Plus, I'll give you a little secret to my clear, glowing skin (my face anyway)...

It doesn't matter what type of skin you have - dry, normal, combination, oily, acne-prone, and more - it is so important to nourish your skin on a daily basis.  Even the healthiest people can have some skin concerns, which can impact the way you feel about how you look.

Consumers are now bombarded by so many skincare options from stores, social media, and marketing - feeling very overwhelmed.  Every body is different, every skin is different.  So how do you even know what works and what doesn't?

In general, the skin is the outer reflection of your inner health, which means that your diet and what you use to nourish your skin does affect the way it looks.  (Remember that what you put ON your skin does get absorbed!)  Clear, glowing skin is an indication of optimum inner health and a good diet.

Fortunately, there are so many ways to nourish and improve your skin and to adjust your diet and lifestyle so you can look your best and achieve the look of youthful skin.  Believe it or not, the body is incredibly resilient, and even with some adjustments, you'll be able to see results within weeks or months (well, in some cases even days but it's always best to be patient).

Here are 10 ways to nourish and improve your skin starting today without feeling overwhelmed or making drastic lifestyle changes.

It's almost Valentine's Day❣  Whether you have a bae/hunny or not in your life, every single woman deserves self-love and self-care.

Love doesn't always have to come from other people.  In fact, it is so important to love yourself.  As women, we wear so many hats in this modern day, and sometimes we forget about our own needs because we are so busy taking care of other people - at work, at home, anywhere really.

This interview of Chrystal Rose is about self-love that impacts the mind, body, and spirit.  I'm going to be completely honest - this is something that I am 100% still struggling with.  I've been bullied and shamed all of my life, a lot of times by the people whom I thought loved me and was closest to me, so this topic is absolutely important to me.  Sometimes people don't realize that words really hurt, and they truly don't realize how those words can impact others' self-esteem, self-worth, and self-love.

Chrystal owns Rebellia, the Rebel Babe Cave podcast, and Mental Message.  She is also a nutritional coach and is currently working on obtaining a certification in life coaching that focuses on body image and disordered eating from a holistic approach.  Chrystal is extremely passionate at what she does and wants to make an impact on women's lives - centering around changing the mindset, achieving sustainability (instead of trying yo-yo diets), and working towards balance.